Removal of Front Air Dam

[Silverado-Hareek]

I wouldn't care as much if they made an easier way to take the air dam off. As it stands now though it's a pain in the ass and there's a ton of hardware to remove. If there was some way to make a quick release mechanism for it, I'd love that because then I can leave it on for maximum MPG's for daily driving and I can take it off when I go off-roading. But it's such a pain to remove and put back that you either live with it or remove it completely. Even the owner's manual states to remove it for off-roading but they don't give us an easy way to do it.

[MikeNH]

I'll fully admit I did it mostly for looks. Though this last winter likely would've taken it off for me if I hadn't anyhow. The truck is expensive, losing 1 mpg (if that's even accurate) isn't gonna kill me.

[Spurshot]

I took the dam thing off the 08 sometime before the first hunting trip in it. I've left the dam thing on this 2014 for now. I have no off-road trips planned until the hunting season anyway. Maybe I'll take the dam thing off for the hunting season and put it back on for the rest of the year. Or maybe I'll do nothing and see how long the dam thing stays on when off-roading.

[gmissed]

20000 miles per year - cost is probably a couple hundred $ extra per year in fuel. It's your dam money. lol

[Robo02cop]

I left mine on for the first 10000 miles and it has been off for 10000 miles and I saw absolutely no drop in gas mileage after removing mine!!! The weight you save from removing the big hunk of plastic and the 18-20 bolts holding the damn thing on offsets what little bit of gas savings that it provides!!!

[GMC-AT]

I'm not sure about the city driving.. but highway (90% of my driving) you will for sure notice a difference. Here some good info http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/156696-front-plastic-air-dam-skirt-valance/

[Luster]

I agree... but all manufacturers have pressure to get the highest MPG... by both the customer and government. GM loves to advertise that their truck get's 1 mpg better than ford. Personally I could care less.. but I think many people do.

 

Unfortunately better aero (like air dams dragging the ground) and weight reduction is the easiest way to increase MPG.

Agree. MPG is a big deal, as you stated, by both the government and the buyer. If I'm between 17 and 20 in a 5000 pound truck, I'm good!

[Grumpy Bear]

Old thread. 

 

The two winglets in front of the tires are to prevent air stuffing the wheel wells reducing drag. 

The center portion of the air dam increased air flow through the radiator. You can increase the flow with more air dam.